Less-Stress Travel with Kids
Happy Thursday! You made it!
Traveling with kids is not a vacation. It’s stressful. It’s expensive. And it’s full of surprises– not always the good kind.
The easiest way to avoid travel drama? Align expectations BEFORE the trip. A short conversation with your kids before you leave home can greatly increase the chances of things going well.
💥Real World Strategy
Get clear on the plan. Explain how you’ll get there, how long it will take, what to expect on the way, and what each day will be like.
Lots of kids love having their own pared-down trip calendar or itinerary, especially if specific things are happening on set days. The best part? Having their own calendar cuts down on their millions of questions (now you’ll only get ½ million).
Make a “Top Three” List. What are the top three things everyone is imagining or hoping for (including YOU)? These are your top priorities of activities, sites, or foods. If something isn’t realistic, get real about that before you go.
Plan for downtime. Travel is destabilizing for lots of kids (and adults). Allow for some quiet, chill time every day.
Stick close to kids’ normal bedtime routines. This will help you avoid pitfalls during the trip and will make homecoming much easier.
🔋Resource of the Week
If you’re driving with toddlers or young children, create a travel activity kit with fun, tidy(-ish) things to do, including:
Mess-free paint/coloring sets
Painter’s tape (to “write” on walls and windows)
Removable/ reusable vinyl cling stickers (to use on windows and in activity books)
A lap pad or storage clipboard to contain it all
🌊Use Your Membership to Dive Deeper
Want more where this came from? Come to one of our upcoming group sessions to hammer out your travel plans. (I’m really good at finding local bakeries, too.) Here’s our 2026 schedule.
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✨Need More Support?
I leave time in my schedule every week for current clients who need some extra TLC. Grab a time on my calendar. (If you don’t see something that works, email me at cari@carinewmancoaching.com, and I’ll do my best to work some calendar magic.) Parenting doesn’t have to be this hard, and you don’t have to do it alone.
You’ve got this.
🩵Cari
p.s. Know another parent who could use short, sweet, and actually useful parenting tips written for real people by a real person? Forward this along! (And if someone sent this to you—nice work, you have thoughtful friends!) Click here to sign up and access the full archive.
